Judith Byrd
Executive Director

Judith Byrd is a seasoned executive with experience in business, government, trade association, health policy and journalism. Most recently, she was Director of Community and Government Relations for Ardent Health Services.

Previously, Judith was the Executive Director for Healthcare for Waller, Lansden, Dortch and Davis (now Holland & Knight) and served as Senior Policy Advisor for Healthcare for Nashville Mayor David Briley.

Judith was also the Communication and Government Relations Director for 180 Health Partners and worked for seven-years at the Nashville Health Care Council where she served in multiple roles including Executive Director of the Council Fellows initiative, a program to engage senior industry leaders to explore new healthcare business strategies, and Executive Director of Leadership Health Care, a program to foster the next generation of healthcare leaders.

In her early career, Judith was an Account Executive with Hall Strategies, a Nashville-based public affairs and government relations firm and was Tennessee Communication Director for the American Cancer Society. 

Judith also served as Legislative Director for a Massachusetts state senator, and a Health Policy Associate for the Washington, D.C.-based Alliance for Health Reform. She began her career in journalism and was Editor for a trade publication covering Congress, the White House and the U.S. Supreme Court as well as News Desk Editor with the Press Association in London, England.

Judith holds a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communications from Samford University. She lives in East Nashville with her three daughters.